Malnutrition bigger threat than Maoists violence, says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

Speaking at a programme in Delhi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that malnutrition is a much bigger threat than Maoist violence in the state and that his government is committed to build a new Chhattisgarh.

“Over 37 per cent of the state’s children are malnourished. It is a bigger threat than Maoism in the state,” said Baghel.

Highlighting the measures taken by his government to improve children’s health, Baghel said, “To provide good nutrition to the children we have started Suposhan scheme in over 109 panchayats of the state,”.

“Suposhit scheme will be launched on October 2,” he added.

Baghel pointed out that the lands of the tribals were acquired in 2006 but no industry was set up in those lands. “After we came to power, we returned that land to the tribals”, Baghel highlighted adding, “Congress government in the state has returned 4,200 acres of land located in 1,700 villages to the tribal people,”.

He also revealed that his government has waived off farm loans of the farmers in the state.

His government also bought the paddies from farmers at the rate of Rs 2,500 per quintal which is much higher than any state government with the aim to increase the income of the farmers .

The Chhattisgarh chief minister said that his government took primary health centres to the local ‘haats’ to provide better medical facilities,in an effort to make health services accessible to the tribal communities.

“I am happy to share that the list of patients arriving at the local ‘haats’ is much higher than the patients arriving at the OPDs of a primary health centre and government hospitals,” he said, adding that it has brought the medical facilities much closer to the people.

Baghel also appealed to industrialists to come to Chhattisgarh for investment and that his government will help them in providing land and power.